Harry Potter The Surprise

Coming down the steps attached to the cliff face, Harry was looking longingly at the inviting sea. He'd waited all this time though, so a little longer while Ron was brought up to date wouldn't hurt. Hermione of course already knew exactly how things had played out, their bond allowing her to hear every word.

Harry understood that, for some people, what they shared could be really disconcerting. For the two lonely people that they were before this, neither he nor Hermione would even consider putting things back they way they were.

It was as if she had been with him as he told the mind-healer of hidden chambers and a secret so dark, both healers immediately offered oaths to protect the information. Harry's assurance that steps were well under way to end the horcrux problem was the only bit of light in an incredibly dark tale.

After hearing Harry's story, the mind-healer was even angrier at how Ginny had been treated. Once again, Hermione was there for him, and Harry needed her strength while he recounted exactly how close Ginny had come to losing her life.

Hermione's presence, probably more than the memory information from Tom, was responsible for giving Harry a confidence he never had before. With Hermione by his side, and in his head, Harry felt they could face anything.

He was faced with a worried Ron and Millie the moment his feet touched the sand. Knowing the twins would tell their brother everything anyway, Harry made no attempt to sugar-coat what just happened.

"The healer said Ginny's treatment - or lack of it - was criminal. In actual fact it is criminal in Italy, so the Italian Ministry will become involved. Dumbledore and your mother will want Ginny home, to hush everything up again. We need to come up with ideas to stop that happening. The twins are with McGonagall, sending a letter to Bill. Remus just headed off to the Italian Ministry, see if we can get a handle on what our options might be. Whatever happens, it's going to be very messy - and probably very public."

They had been joined by the rest of their friends, and it was Luna who spoke up. "If it's going to become public, you know my dad will publish the truth - if you want? Ginny was my friend before Hogwarts, and then she wasn't. If they did this to her then I think everyone should know, and know why too. Ginny has always fancied the Boy-Who-Lived, what girl hasn't, but I didn't recognise my friend at all last night."

While trying not to blush over Luna's Boy-Who-Lived comment, Susan had something to add here too. "You know my aunt will play whatever happens strictly by the law. It's what she does - no matter who is involved."

"Your aunt is certainly someone we consider a friend. Yes she's known for following the letter of the law, but we're in a different country right now - with different laws. Italian Law apparently puts the need of the child first. I wish we had that in Britain, then Dumbledore would never have been able to kidnap me and leave a toddler on a muggle doorstep. He didn't get punished for that, Dumbledore won't consider he did anything wrong with Ginny either. Can't you just hear him - I tried to help a family out, save the expense of a mind-healer. People will believe him, because he's Albus Dumbledore."

Hermione had her arm around Harry, she understood exactly how much he was hurting here. "Ginny's now getting treatment, and the battle to see what happens next will probably be fought by both Ministries' of Magic. Let's be happy with the first bit of news, and not let the second spoil what is a lovely day. Madam Pomfrey will let us know later how Ginny is responding to treatment, and when she can start enjoying her holiday."

With that suggestion finding agreement all around, Hermione led Harry toward the sea. Taking off their transfigured sandals, they stepped into the water and walked along the beach with the waves gently lapping around their ankles. At any other time, this would have been a lovely romantic moment. With the turmoil currently waging war within Harry, that was never going to happen. Hermione knew exactly what the problem was, she just waited on him talking about it.

"Do these bastards think being magically powerful gives them the right to mess with people's lives? 'And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal', that line terrifies me more than anything else. I think my boggart now would be me turning into either of those bastards. One tried to murder Ginny for his own evil ends, the other seriously messed with her mind to try and cover his own arse. Who's to say her parents actually went along with him? We've both seen Dumbledore use his wand to get what he wants."

Taking a deep breath, and using Hermione's presence in his mind to help centre himself, Harry moved on to the problems now facing them. "We didn't want to be fighting Voldemort, Dumbledore and the Ministry at the same time, I think that's unavoidable now. You could probably also add the Weasley parents to the list of people who will be out for our blood. We have to help Ginny though..."

"...and that is why my Harry will never be like either of those two. You care for people, not power - never power. I really hope Bill can help or this will get nasty very quickly. The Italian Ministry might try and protect Ginny but there is no one to stop Molly pulling Ron and the twins back to Britain."

The wonderful setting, and having Hermione at his side, kicked Harry back into planning mode. He had responsibilities, and even employees now. "We're going to have to start work right away, a meeting before dinner tonight?"

"What do we do about the Weasleys? If they get dragged back to Britain, Dumbledore will soon know a lot about us."

"I have a written confirmation from their parents that they can stay for two weeks. Even claiming the situation's changed, we should be able to drag things out to see they get those two weeks. We must have things in place before that, so they can't then stop us. I think Italian citizenship for both of us needs to shoot up your to-do list as well. We can speak to Remus about it later. Instead of a holiday, the next two weeks are now going to be manic."

Agreeing with Harry, Hermione was still sure they could pull it off. "We originally thought that time would be needed convincing the professors to join us here, yet they all seem eager to get started. Counting Remus, we're looking at having the four best professors from Hogwarts teaching here come September. If nothing else, tonight will let everyone see how much thought we've put into this."

Kissing Hermione, Harry's determination was back. "Everything here is beautiful, including you. Let's try and enjoy today before the hard work starts."

At that, Hermione took his hand and started running into deeper water. When the water was lapping around their waists, she turned and held him in her arms. "We'll have the rest of our lives to enjoy ourselves. A summer working our butts off won't do us any harm..."

"I usually spend my summers working my butt off, so this will still seem like a holiday to me. Just having you here is like a holiday to me..."

They were suddenly splashed by Ron. "You were looking far too serious there, you need to lighten up."

Harry and Hermione had been so wrapped up in themselves, they hadn't noticed their friends joining them. Using his ring to surreptitiously magically drench Ron in retaliation was the trigger that started a water fight amongst the eight of them. There was much laughter, and switching of sides as the 'fight' quickly became a free-for-all. Everyone was having a blast, and remembering they were teenagers on a beach holiday.

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